What I’m seeing at Blackhawks training camp: 10 observations after 3 days
Nick Lardis isn't making the Chicago Blackhawks out of camp. The Blackhawks aren't selling him false hope, and he understands his reality.
But when it comes to the future, no player may have done as much to build expectations as Lardis in recent weeks. What Lardis has shown with his shot, quickness and hockey IQ in the last two weeks has Chicago management even more excited for his eventual NHL arrival.
Outside of Connor Bedard , the 19-year-old Lardis may be the Blackhawks' best bet for an elite goal scorer in the years to come. As much hype as Frank Nazar , Oliver Moore and other prospects have been creating, most of them would lean more toward playmakers than goal scorers. Lardis is a pure goal scorer.
Lardis is coming off a season in which he scored 29 goals in 37 regular-season OHL games and another four goals in six playoff games. Those goal numbers would have been much higher if it weren't for a wrist injury. He should compete for an OHL goal-scoring title this season.
In recent weeks, Lardis has made the case that his offensive ability could translate to the NHL level. He scored a goal off a one-timer and had another scoring chance while playing with a stomach bug at the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase. He's followed that up with a noticeable training camp while playing alongside Nazar and Colton Dach on a line.
Lardis is well aware of where he needs to score goals if he's going to succeed in the NHL.
"I think just keeping doing what I'm doing in junior, but I think it's important for me to kind of learn the habits more, just kind of getting to the net," Lardis said. "I think like 85 percent of the goals are scored right around the crease, so it's important for me to get to the net. I thought in the first scrimmage I did that and got rewarded there, too. I just want to keep continuing to do that more and kind of have that as a habit in my game."
Teräväinen deserves a look with Bedard soon
Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson wanted to give his initial training camp lines a chance to create some chemistry. He didn't think it'd be helpful to begin shuffling players around too early in camp. Soon, though, Richardson will start moving people around.
When that happens, it'd be surprising if Teuvo Teräväinen didn't get a look with Bedard. He's such a gifted and smart passer — he can thread passes, he knows how to use space. He also understands when not to force the issue.
Richardson didn't go as far as saying Teräväinen would be promoted to the top line, but the third-year coach seems to understand his potential.
"When you ask a player that, especially (one) that's really worked on his two-way game over the last few years, especially the way Carolina plays, I think when you think that you're not tapped out yet on your offensive ability, I think that's going to be fun to kind of work with and see where we can go with that," Richardson said. "Obviously, in the power plays he's calm, he's got a good panic point, especially on the half wall, and he makes good decisions. It's not a lot of high-risk decisions. He knows when the seam is there and he hits it."
Bubble players appear as if they'll get real shots
A lot of teams talk about roster competition in training camp, but many don't really follow through with it. The preseason games are where players can separate themselves, and teams can diminish players' chances at making the roster by limiting their preseason games. The Blackhawks sound as if they plan on giving bubble players plenty of games.
"The veteran guys, we won't play them in all games," Richardson said. "Some guys, who's battling for what, we're going to have to make sure they have an opportunity to play in four, five or six games to show us what they've got to make sure we make the right decision."
The forwards it likely applies to are Joey Anderson , Dach, Ryan Donato , Nazar and Landon Slaggert . As for defensemen, Wyatt Kaiser , Kevin Korchinski , Isaak Phillips , Louis Crevier , Nolan Allan and Ethan Del Mastro likely play in a handful of preseason games.
Most physical player: Isaak Phillips
Phillips has been noticeably knocking teammates around during the few days of camp. It hasn't been anything malicious, but he certainly hasn't been holding back.
The 22-year-old, entering his fifth professional season, entered camp with a focus on being more physical. He took the offseason to assess his development and decided after watching video of the game's best shutdown defensemen that he needed to bring more of that physical element to his game.
"I haven't always used my size in the way I feel like I could, so it's definitely something I want to show in this camp is being that physical presence," Phillips said. "If I want to be that shutdown pair type of guy who can be relied upon, that I can throw some big hits, use my body more. So that's what I'm looking to show hopefully over here, then preseason games and continue on that path."
Phillips admitted he is enjoying it, too.
"It's fun," Phillips said. "It's great. Knocking someone down, it's great. It feels good. It's like, f— yeah, I can do that. ... Sorry for swearing. But, yeah, it's great. When you feel confident in your size and ability, it's fun."
You would have to think Phillips is likely in the running for the Blackhawks' seventh defenseman spot. He and Crevier saw some time in that role last season.
Where does Athanasiou fit?
Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson sought to create a lineup this season where players aren't just playing anywhere. He didn't want to repeat a season in which a handful of players were playing everywhere from the first line to the fourth.
Davidson does seem to have succeeded — the Blackhawks now have players suited for top-six roles and others for bottom-six roles.
The one player who doesn't really fit so far is Andreas Athanasiou . His current linemates, Patrick Maroon and Craig Smith , are proven, reliable veterans, but neither would be considered highly offensive players at this stage of their careers. Athanasiou may not be coming off a major offensive season, but his offensive ability is still his greatest strength.
Richardson was asked recently how he envisioned using Athanasiou.
"I know he spent a lot of time here this summer working on his body and his conditioning and he looks like he's in great shape," Richardson said. "Now it's just to get him confident and using that speed. I think he always looks good in the middle so that's not a bad spot, where you have two veteran guys, a line that you can count on to not make mistakes. That's something where he has to be more consistent at and use his speed, because when he has the puck and he's moving, he's very dangerous out there.
"Maroon, for a big guy that's known to be rugged, he's got great hands and can make very good plays. Craig Smith's a veteran guy that can shoot the puck as we saw (on the first day), and he's got some energy. Putting the three together, there's a lot of experience. Who knows if they'll stay together, but right now it looks like a good chemistry there. We'll see how it grows."
Five other quick observations
• The camp scrimmages seem to be a hit with everyone from management to coaches to players. Richardson mentioned the possibility of even longer scrimmages in the coming days.
• Slaggert has been one of the more impressive young players so far in camp. He just looks so dialed in. He's been active offensively and defensively. It helps that he's producing. We'll see if he can beat someone else out, but he may make it a difficult decision.
• Philipp Kurashev said he wasn't thinking at all about where the Blackhawks were going to place him in the lineup this season. He seems to be riding a lot of confidence from his performance last season. It'll be interesting to see how much production he puts up because it will likely determine his contract negotiations after the season.
• The Blackhawks have their first preseason games this week with a home game on Wednesday and road games on Friday and Saturday. The veterans usually play at home, so it's likely Wednesday's roster is full of vets and the younger players get the weekend game.
• Richardson expected his first camp cuts to come this week, likely to be the players on AHL contracts. Those who are expected to return to junior will likely get one or two preseason games before returning to their respective teams.
(Top photo of Nick Lardis: Jamie Sabau / USA Today)
